February 12, 1980 USA Vs. Sweden

I walked into the Olympic Ice Arena with Rizzo and Silk. I was so excited. The boys were off to get ready for the game. Dad and Herb were leading the way in.

"I am so excited." I said.

"You got your scarf and gloves?" Rizzo asked.

"Yes," I said as I stopped outside the locker room, the boys began to file in to get dressed. "Good luck boys."

I hugged Jimmy Craig, Ramsey, Christoff, and Silky. I kissed and hugged Rizzo. "Good luck out there, Captain Eruzione." I said.

"I'll see you out there." Rizzo said and walked into the locker room.

I turned and saw OC standing on his crutches. "Okay, O'Callahan. You're with me for the evening." I said and he smiled at me. "We'll head out to the bench about ten minutes before game time. For now, why don't we grab a snack?"

After a quick snack, OC and I headed out to the bench. Dad, Herb and Doc were already there.

(First Period)

Sweden is leading us 1-0. But that is not the bad part. The worst part is Mac is hurt. Doc is helping him to the locker room. All we know is that Mac is having pain in his leg after taking a nasty hit on the ice. I groan inwardly. Here we are in the first period of the first game and we have a second player hurt.

Sweden is the 3rd best team in the world. Our team seemed a little bit intimidated. Herb didn't look real happy. When the buzzer rang I followed the rest of the team to the back. I saw dad walking with Herb, and then Herb started talking to Doc. I hoped that Doc had good news about Mac. We really couldn't afford to lose another skater.

"What's the deal with Mac?" Herb asked Doc.

"Upper leg contusion. I think he is done for the night." Doc said.

"What if he plays?" Herb asked.

Doc looked confused, "I don't understand Herb."

"If he plays on it, can he hurt it any worse?" Herb asked.

"Well no, but it would be very painful for him and he wouldn't be able to do very much." Doc said.

Herb walked into the locker room. I followed him and stood with my dad and OC who was on his crutches. The locker room was silent as Herb started ranting.

"This is unbelievable. You guys are playing like this is some throw away game up in Rochester. Who we playing Rammer?" Herb yelled.

"Sweden." Ramsey said.

"Yeah, you're damn right, SWEDEN!" Herb yelled and knocked over our equipment table. "IN THE OLYMPICS!"

The whole team looked shocked and I wasn't sure how to take this.

Herb looked at Mac sitting on the bench, ice on his knee. "What the hell's wrong with you?" Herb asked. "Put your gear on."

Mac and the rest of us just stared at Herb. Herb repeated himself, "I said put your gear on!"

"Doc told me I can't play." Mac said.

"Yeah, I know you gotta a bad bruise!" Herb sneered. "You know what, put your street clothes on, cause I got no time for quitters."

"Come on Herb." Rizzo said. "Nobody's quitting here."

"You worry about your own game." Herb snapped at Rizzo. "Plenty there to keep you busy."

Rizzo looked hurt and pissed at the same time, while I clenched my hands and bit my tongue. Now was not the time to announce our relationship by flipping out on Herb!

Herb turned back to Mac. "Bruise on the leg is a hell of a long way from the heart…candyass."

"What'd you call me?" Mac asked.

"You heard me." Herb said.

I was shocked; this was extreme even for Herb. Before I could react Mac had stood up and thrown down his ice pack and was hobbling towards Herb.

"You want me to play, huh? Is that what you want?" Mac started to yell while advancing (bad leg and all) on Herb.

"I WANT YOU TO BE A HOCKEY PLAYER!" Herb yelled in Mac's face.

"I AM A HOCKEY PLAYER!" Mac screamed back as Johnson and Ramsey moved to hold Mac back. "YOU WANT ME TO PLAY ON ONE LEG; I'LL PLAY ON ONE LEG! WILL THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY?"

I lost track of Mac's yelling as the team tried to hold him back. Herb walked past me and dad. "Think that'll get him going?" Herb asked.

"Oh yeah," dad said with a smile and I realized what Herb had been up to. "I'll clean up."

I ran inside the locker room where the team was trying to calm down Mac. Mac wasn't even this angry the day he and OC got in a fistfight at practice.

(Third Period)

We were down 2-1, despite playing hard. Mac had stayed in the game. I could see him grimace in pain, but he was right in there doing all that he could. I was on the edge of my seat. I knew we needed to win or tie this game if we wanted to go to the medal round. If we didn't making it to the medal around would be nearly impossible.

Less than 3 minutes left. Silk and Johnson passed he puck. I heard dad say something to Baker. Herb was calling for the Coneheads.

"We need an extra skater; we have to take out Craig." I told dad.

Dad sent Baker onto the ice. Schneider gained control of the puck. Herb called Craig out of the game. Schneider passed to Ramsey who passed to Baker. We were all watching the clock and on our feet. Harrington was fighting for the puck, and then Ramsey had it again. I keep looking from the ice to the clock and back.

"Come on, get a shot!" I yelled onto the ice.

I saw Schneider fighting for the puck. He kicked it to Pavelich. Pavelich passed to Baker. Baker took a shot and scored. There was literally no time left. I jumped and hugged the first player I could find, it just happened to be Jimmy Craig.

As we all hugged, I saw dad shaking hands with Herb. We had tied the game; we were still alive in the Olympics. Rizzo looked so happy, I wanted to kiss him but couldn't. I did hug him though.

"Way to go, Baker!" I said when he skated back over to the bench!

As the boys filed onto the bus, dressed in their shirts and ties, I couldn't stop smiling. I was so proud of them.

"If you get this excited because we tied a game, you will faint when we win!" OC said.

"Oh leave me alone, I am happy for my team. By the way, where is Captain Eruzione?" I asked.

"He will be along." OC said. "Are you staying in our room tonight?"

"Probably. I haven't got to spend much quality time with Rizzo today." I said.

"I just wondered, Silky and I are going out for awhile." OC said.

I smiled at him. Sometimes, I think he purposely busies himself so that Rizzo and I have time to ourselves. We never complained about him hanging out with us; he just understood sometimes we needed to be alone. And he never complained about me spending so much time in his room.

Rizzo walked out of the arena. I ran to hug him. "Whoa, what if your dad or Herb sees us?" Rizzo asked but was smiling as he hugged me back.

"I am just hugging you. I have been hugging everyone in sight so they wouldn't know any better. OC has been picking on me for being so excited!" I said as we walked towards the bus.

"Want to order some food at the hotel? It's all paid for, can you believe it?" Rizzo asked as we climbed onto the bus.

"I think that when they Olympic Committee sees how much you eat, they will change their minds about that." I said and we sat down.

"Hey OC, what is this I hear about you picking on Chev?" Rizzo called across the aisle.

"Rizzo, during the last minute of the game she was on the edge of the bench. She is so fun to hang with while you have a bum knee. If we actually win a game we'll need to give her CPR!" OC said and Rizzo laughed.

"I am just happy for all of you." I told him.

"Mom called," Rizzo said as I walked out of the shower and into his room. "She says you look 'adorable' in your scarf."

"Thank you, Mikey." I said and he rolled his eyes at me.

I climbed into bed beside him and snuggled against his chest.

"Does your dad think you're at Jimmy's?" Rizzo asked.

"I just told him I was going to hang out with some of the team. He doesn't really ask anymore." I said.

"Well, have I told you how hott you look in that jersey Miss Patrick?" Rizzo asked and rolled me beneath him.

"A few hundred times, but don't let that stop you, Captain Eruzione!" I said.

"You know this is all still surreal." Rizzo said.

"Being captain?" I asked.

"Being captain, being on the Olympic team, being with you." Rizzo said. "It's like all at once fate has given me everything I have ever wanted." Rizzo traced my locket. "Would your mother have liked me?"

"I honestly don't know. I don't remember her at all. All I know about her is what dad has told me." I told him. "But I think she would have, because I love you very much."

He leaned down and kissed me. "I love you too. You know OC said something about not being back till after midnight." Rizzo raised both eyebrows at me.

"Well let's not waste our time alone." I said and pulled his mouth down to mine.

Once again, just wanted to thank my readers! I love the reviews! If you're reading and not reviewing, give me a review just to say hi or something! I hope everyone is enjoying the story!!!

Emador- (Here is a tissue.) Glad you liked the chapter! More will be coming soon, I promise.

Klinoa- I scribble ideas down everywhere! Sometimes an idea hits me in the middle of the night and I start typing.

Meadow567- Getting Anxious? So was Rizzo before Christmas! LOL (I couldn't resist the bad joke!)

Nikkd03- (Here is a tissue.) Seems I should include a box of tissues with every chapter! LOL Thanks for your comments!